The Nigerian Navy on Thursday deployed seven ships and two helicopters to enhance maritime search and rescue operations across the nation’s waters.
The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) of the Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Mustapha Hassan, inaugurated the operation, named ‘Exercise Swift Response,’ aboard the Nigerian Navy Ship, KADA.
In addition to the naval assets, the deployment involved auxiliary facilities and a patrol vessel from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Rear Admiral Hassan emphasized that the objective of the exercise was to bolster maritime search and rescue capabilities, aiming to mitigate the loss of lives and property at sea.
“This exercise involves the deployment of suitable naval assets, equipped for maritime disaster management operations.
“The exercise is aimed at contributing to the safety of lives at sea in Nigeria’s maritime environment and the Gulf of Guinea by providing prompt and timely response to maritime accidents,” he said.
Hassan said that it would also serve as an opportunity to evaluate the command’s disaster management capabilities and add value to the Chief of Naval Staff’s aspiration for improved operational readiness of the Nigerian Navy.
Hassan said the exercise would involve the training of personnel in the new tactic of triangulating and prosecuting rogue vessels at sea.
“The exercise will afford ships in the western fleet the opportunity to reevaluate their information-sharing capabilities through effective communication and also test their capabilities for carrying out rescue missions at sea.
“It will also equally assess the capabilities of the Nigerian Navy in surveillance and special air operations, among others,” the FOC said.
